Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has described Brazilian youngster Kenedy as a player with 'great potential' and all but confirmed his loan move to Newcastle United.

The 21-year-old spent time on loan at Vicarage Road last season but played for a mere 15 minutes in the Premier League after a lengthy knee injury — he played 75 minutes against the Hornets for Chelsea at the end of that season.

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The ex-Fluminense winger only made it to the bench twice outside of that lone appearance as his loan was cut short in December 2016 and hasn't made a Premier League appearance for Chelsea this term but impressed in their FA Cup win over Norwich.

Former Italy manager Conte was determined that Kenedy's career would have an upward trajectory however.

Chelsea's Kenedy reacts during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final at Stamford Bridge, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday December 20, 2017. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

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"I think it will be good for Kenedy but at the same time he has to know that he must be ready to fight to play at Newcastle, because don’t forget in his first six months at Watford he struggled a lot to play and played only 24 minutes.

"But I think now he is more ready. Now he can show his potential by going out on loan."